Apparatus for dyeing, coloring, and coating



A ril 22,1930. -P.MIJERETAL 1,755,302

APPARATUS FOR DYEING, COLORING, AND COATING Filed Feb. 25, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet l I ATTORNEYS A ril-22, 1930. p, MUER ET AL 1,755,302

APPARATUS FOR DYEING, COLORING, AND COATING Filed Feb. 23, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORN EYJ April 22, 1930. p, MIJER ET AL 1,755,392 I 'PARATUS FOR DYEING, COLORING, AND COATING Filed Feb. 25, l926 I 5 snees-snee cs In N 4 N i-n m N I o I,\ IENTORS Refer e/" QOUPM/I Kim/u ATTORNEYS April 22, 1930. MIJER ET AL 1,755,302

' APPARATUS FOR DYEING, C'O'LORING, AND COATING Filed Feb. 25, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 NVENTORS Hell! 'er George .Padcllffe BY Les/8r Sea/f {Cut/v ATTORNEYS A ril 22, 1930. P. MIJER ETAL 1,755,302

APPARATUS FOR DYEING, COLORING, AND COATING Filed Feb. 25, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEY J Patented A r, 22, 193 V ITED PATE T 0 w PIETER mans, or unw YORK, AND LESTER 0.: soon, or BROOKLYN, new YORK, AND (moses s. ,RAD'FORD, or--;nn w 'CANAAN, CONNECTICUT; ASSIGNQRS, BY imssmi on NEW Yonx APPARATUS ron nimi nd -iconoainc," feoa'rme' Application filed. February 23, IBQQ IJSe'riah-I I 1925,

This invention relates to an improved apparatus for dyeing or coloring fabrics suchfas I W I V {reference to jthe" accompanying drawings, in

" textile fabrics,

or fordyeing or coloring any other articles, and relates more particularly which:

aids or articles preferably in the form of a;

continuous web, such as continuousipiecesof ribbon, silk, cotton,

Our improved, apex either-on one ore-both sides thereof, either with the samev color or with differenttones of the same color, or with .difierenncolorsg v 1 Among theobjectsofour'invention is to provide an improved apparatus for uniform. 1y dyeing, a textilefabric, either on one or both sides thereof, while positively. controlling the amount of color applied to the Web of textile fabric or other article being treated. Afurther object of the invention is to provide an improved app operation utilizing a so-called color cloud out the composed of minute particles of atomized dye liquor, coloring matter or other liquid, with: formation of drops or objectionable spots upon the fabric. A further object of the invention is to provide a colorcloud made up of extremely fine particles of color or dye stuff. A further object of the inventionis to feed the material to be treated relative to the color cloud or in such manner that said matece to said color mass whileexposed thereto.

' Fthe' invention is to provide an improved texi herein described.

tile fabric coated or dyed on one or both sides thereof with minute particles of coloring matter deposited thereon by means of the process The present invention is an improvement on the inventions described in the prior patout applications of Pieter Mijer, Serial No. 692,762, filed February 14, 1924; Serial No. 723,166, filed June 30, 1924; Serial No. 723,- 167, filed June 30, 1924; Serial No. 724,262, filed July 5,1924; Serial No. 725,100, filed fitheniachin tyj to'an improved apparatus of dyeingmaterior materials with liquids of all;

applicableifor thedy aratus adapted for continuous elevation of the apparatus ASSIGNM N S,"ro, rwoaonnlcoaronArxo v, verr-mutt Y RK-gr. Y, k-CORIEOBATIOH July 16', 924. {preferredembodiment of iv the1=1nventionIWillgrioW;be] described with .7

ILK

1 "Figl 3-is anielevation offthe entering end rigzeis- 131g; 5' is a; 'horiz ital sectionfofi the line -j-5'of -Figure2;fj1 .Fig. is a cross-{sec on-on Figure 2; f J1ig.'7"isa pla v H Fig.8 illustratespthe'fdriving echanism more or" less diagrammaticallygo line 8 -8 of figure' 25 and f'f f j- Fig, 9 shows 'thegatomizer in enlarged sectional elevation.-

Referring to the'drawings, the mechanism comprises broadly the cloud ienerating means the drying means G. .Acloud ofminuteparticles of atomized dye liquor or coloring matter is generated in chamber A, passes to dye chamber'B, where it is applied to the fabric, and the fabric is thereafter dried in the chamber 0. The'generatingchamber A is provided with aroof 10 to which is hinged A, the dye application cham or B, and

" adoor 11 with sight window 12 (Fig. 2).

Adjacent'saidwin ow 12 (Fig. 2) is abank vof atomizing nozzles 13, which nozzles serve to atomizethe dye, liquor, coloring matter or July 10,1924, and Serial No. 726,249, filed coating liquid, and-break it up into extremely .minute particles which pass in the'for'm'of a' A' further object of cloud from the chamber A tothe chamber B. Said chamber A furthermore serves'as a separating vchamber' that is 1 to] say, heavy particles ofdye liquor which may pass out of the nozzles, or may be formed in the operation of the nozzles, drop on thevfioor' ofthe chamber A, while the lighter particles pass into the chamberB'. Each of the nozzles 13 are connected bypipes 13 (see 3) with a header 14 (Fig. 1) and the passage of 11q-. "uid into each of said pipes 13' from the header 14 is controlled by cocks 15. A needle valve 16- controls the connection between pi e 17 connected to dye tank 18 and header 4,

cock 52 (Fig. 5) and header 48 bein .whereby fine adjustments of the total quantity of liquid passing to the atomizers can be effected. Pipe 19 controlled by cook 20 admits air under pressure to tank 18 (Fig. 4) whereby to positively force dye liquor. or other liquid in tank 18 into the bank of atomizer nozzles 13. Pipe 21 leads compressed air or other suitable atomizing medium to the atomizer nozzles, and is con trolled by cook 22 (Fig. 3). It will be noted that the roof 23 of the cloud generating chamber A is curved as shown (see Fig. 3) and inclines to the end wall24 (Fig. 2) of chamber B. Referring to Fig.2, chamber B has its front end wall 24 formed with an opening 25 constituting a passage between chamber A and chamber B, through which the cloud of atomized dye can pass from the generating chamber to the dye chamber. 'That portion 26 of wall 24 forms a baffle to revent large drops passing fromchamber to chamber B. A shield 27 projects into dye chamber B and serves to obstruct lar e drops or large particles which may pass rom chamber A to chamber B, from dropping on to the textile fabric or the like at the bottom of said chamber. Referring to Fig. 5, it will be seen that spaces 28, 29 between the longitudinal walls of the dye chamber, and space 30 between the end of the shield and the end wall 31 (Fig. 2) of the dye chamber, permit the cloud of d e particles to pass from theupper part 32 of chamber B to the lower part 33 ((Fig. 2) of the said chamber. Toprevent rops forming on any of the edges of said shield 27, the edges of this shield are formed by steam pipes 34 receiving steam from pipe 35 controlled by cock 36 (Fig. 5) and con-' nected to a source of steam supply. The pipe 34 at the outermost edge'of apron 27 is connected by pipes 37 and 38 with steam cock 39 (Fig.5). A heavy endless belt 40 (Fig.

2) of'canvas or the like, which will lie flat in operation, passes over a curved bed 41 at the bottom of chamber B; it passes over rollers 42, 43 mounted on shafts 44, 45, and suitably driven as more particularly describedwith reference to Fig. 8. Said belt passes through slots 46, 47, in the end walls 24 31, and the edge of each of said slots is forliledbysteani headers 48, 49 connected together by longitudinal steam pipesfil), header 49 being connected to exhaust by pipe'51;controlled by connected to cock 39 by pipe 53. The rying chamber C comprises a steam coil 54 connected at one end with cock. 39 and at the other end with cock 55 leading toexhaust 56.

Said steam coil is arranged beneaththe belt' 40 and servesto dry the belt and the fabric thereon, as it passes through the slots 57, and 58 (Fig. 2) in the casing 59 of the drying chamber. A-glassdoor-fiO in casing 59 permits of observation andxientry tochamber C, and glass door 61 (Fig. 1) on e'a'chside-of chamber B permits of observation and entry to chamber B. The conveyor belt driving mechanism is illustrated more particularly in Figs. 7 and 8, and comprises a motor 62 and driving belt 63 connected to a Reeves change speed gear 64, or other suitable change speed gearing (illustrated diagrammatically) and connected by belt 65 with speed-reducing mechanism 66 connected by chain 67 with sprocket 68 on shaft 44 of belt-driving pulle 42. Chain 69 connects sprocket 7 O on sha t 44 with sprocket 71 on shaft 72 journaled in bearings 73 which shaft 72 supports a takeup roller 74 which receives the fabric. It will be understood that on operation of the motor switch, said motor drives through the aforesaid mechanisms, the belt pulley 42 and the take-up roller 74.

Where the machine is employed for dyeing ribbons or other materials which lie flat on-the belt with or without tension, the above belt feeding mechanism operates satisfactorily, but where certain kinds of broad cloth,

broad silk, etc., are treated, we prefer to provide means for laying the material fiat upon the belt. To this end, we may if desired provide a spreader roller 75 at the incoming end of the machine, said spreader roller being journaled in bearings 76 and suitably driven. Idler roller 80 is ournaled in bearing 76.

The broad silk being fed into the machinepasses over idler roller around spreader roller 75 whichla s the material fiat on belt 41. The spreader roller may be of any well known type having sufiicient grip on the fabric or material to stretch the same .1

and the upper portion of dye chamber 13' provide a long path for the particles coming from the bank of atomizing nozzles 13. Ob-

viously, when these particles leave the atomizers, they have a certain velocity. It has been noted that when these particles are under a substantial velocity and meet obstructions, they tend to coalesce on the obstruction, forming drops which are carried by the pfisnreebtained in chamber A into chamber B. Moreover, where the particles are under considerable velocity, if they should strike an obstruction, they would tend to form drops'on" this obstruction. It is, therefore, an 1mportantfeature of theinvention that particles travelingunder substantial velocity do not come into contact with any obstructions. 7 gr within the chamber B, they have substantiallylost their velocity and pass down 'under gravity. Coalescing or drop formation By thetime the particlesare i ,vided spray,

" feed the liquid the pressure feed on the liquid tank heretofer to carry ,out

'nor does it depend upon the pressure 0 on the wall 31 is thus avoided, although if any drops should form, they do not fall upon the fabric because they are evaporated by the steam header 47.

While any suitable atomizing devices may be employed which will produce a finely diwe prefer to employ atomizing nozzles having permanently set nozzles such as those made by the Parks Cramer Company, of Fitchburg, Mass, of U. SaA. These atomizing nozzles present the important advantage that they do not require setting, as is the case with the air brushes of theftype employed in the earlier'co-pending applications hereinbefore referred to. Where any clogging up of the brushes takes place, they can readily be cleaned by the application of a brush through the door 512.). -These atomizing means are illustrate in section in Fig. 9, from which it will be seen that each atomizer is composed of two parts, 80, 81, part enclosing a chamber screwed the nozzle 81. Air is admitted into chamber 82 through connection 83, while the dye liquid is introduced into nozzle 81 through connection 84. Said nozzle 81 is formed with a fine median passage 85, through which the liquid asses to the needle end 86. This needle end is adjusted with reference to an aperture 87 leading into chamber 82, and the curved walls 88 of said chamber 82 direct the compressed air in said chamber into the desired atomizing relation With the liquid issuing from nozzle 87 In the preferred form of the invention, the atomizing medium, such as compressed air, is supplied at high pressure, whereby the liquid issuing from the atomizing nozzle is immediately broken up into extremely minute particles. Preferablythe compressed air is supplied by pressures" from 115 to 120 lbs. per squareinch or higher. We may also under pressure by means of fore described, and it is preferred to feed said liquid at a pressure of around 40 lbs. per square inch. It is to be noted that owmg to the fact that both the airLand the liquid are under positive control, while the amount of liquid supplied does not depend upon the amount of compressed air sup lied,

' i saidcompressed air, the quantity of dye liquor in chamber B is at all times under the positive control of the operator, so that he can determine with substantial exactitude the amount of dye atomized per minute.

We will now proceed to describe the operation of our improved process, employing the apparatus hereinbeforereferred to. We pre- .the process with raw or virginsilk which has been boiled off according to usual practice before it has been sized or finished. ,The silk is ironed or smoothed to re move any wrinkles-therefrom. The desired 82 into which is suitably] the portions which amount of color to be usedhaving' been determlned, the 'atomizing nozzles are set in operation by turning on the compressed air and liquid dye, the air pres sures being suitably regulated, and the quantity of liquid fed into the bank of nozzles being regulated by needle valve 16. A leader cloth or web is fed' into the dye chamber to cover the belt 40 on the bottom thereof, and the freeend thereof is attached to winding-up roller 74. The silk is not fed into the machine until a balanced cloud is built up Within the dye chamber, and

by a balanced cloud we mean a cloud in which the amount of atomized particles which are being fed into the cloud is aboutthe same as the amount of particles which are deposited on the bottom of the dye chamber 13 and on the fabric. Such a stable or balanced cloud takes a considerable time to' build up, but experience soon enables the operator to determine the time element. Where the cloud is too small in chamber B at the beginning of the dye operation, that portion of the fabric which is first dyed will be lighter in color than are dyed ten or fifteen minutes later. After having established stable conditions in respect of said cloud, the

.passes into drying chamber C where it is dried by the action of the steam coil 54 therein ,it then passes to winding roller 7 4. After the material has been dyed on one side thereof, it can be dyed in a similar apparatus with a different color or different shade of the same color on the other side thereof. We may pro after it has been dyed on one side, before it has been dyed on the other, or we may steam the material after it has been dyed on .both sides. It is impgtant that the material should be kept flat during the steaming operation, and it is preferred that the steam shall befwet, as is common in steamers used iIT'the printing art. In the preferred operation of the process, good results have been obtained with the humidity indicated by a difference of four degrees between the wet and dry bulb readings in a steaming and ageing machine. The effect of the steaming operation appears to be to spread the minute microscopic particles of color on the fabric, so as to tend to make them merge into gne another. and

alsov to set'the'secolor particles in the fibres.

passing through a theminute particles of which are dewide an intermediate steaming of the material I I r.

a By the employment of the spreader roll 75, the material such as silk or the like is laid flat upon the conveyor belt before it they are created by condensation, coalescing or spitting of the atomizers, do not fall upon the fabric and cause spots. Any particles or drops forming on the edges of apron 27.01" slots 46,47,11re immediately evaporated by aforesaidsteam pipes. We prefer to filter the color. prior to leading itto the atomi'zer'in any suitable manner, and to employ the dye iii 5;

5 concentrated solution. It illbe'apprecialted that-an apparatus in accordance Withthe hie of dyeing presentinvention provides color cloud capa- Without the formation of drops that is, the concentration of sufiicient dye liquor pass entirely through the fabric and inform-a spot n the fabric at tlns point which is ditierentiated in color from the color field i ercolor ground around it. i as.

which makeup theclou d, and we differentiate I between spots on the textile fabric and the We differentiate between drop and the minute particles .rninute specks of colorproduc'ed; by the minute particles of the cloud.

Whilethe-improved process and apparatus ave been described with reference to a pre- 1 embodiment thereto,'it will be obvious or variations can be' impo rtedr into the said comprising a dye asp recess and 7 iron; the scope apparatus. Without: departing i the invention.

in apparatusgfor cloud dyeing textile j and a cloud gencratingv a'mber eiiternal I s and communicating t-herewlthy and m t extent to permit separat on of n. 43 I .ne the cloudenters the dye tion chamber, an thereto, of suf- Uifl'ifiOIl' of dropsatomizing A .3121. v s ior dyeing textile fabrics, lication chamber, an apron extending substantially across said dye chamber'to support the fabric to be dyed, andmeans for chamber.

providing a dye cloud in said a. An apparatus for dyeing textile fabrics, comprising spray means for atomising a li"- uid at high pressure toform a cloud, means for providirs a long path. tenths high presis formed to permit separation of large drops from the spray, and means for feeding material to be treated relative to said cloud.

5. An apparatus for dyeing textile fabrics, comprising an atomizing chamber, a dye a plication chamber communicating therewit and shielding means extending across the dye application chamber between the top and bottomv thereof but permittingsubstantial communication between the upper and lowerportion of the dye application chamber.

6." In an apparatus for dyeing textile fabrics, an atomizing chamber, a dye chamber communicating therewith, and a shield extending into the dye chamber and means for eventing theformation of drops on the edge '0" aid shield.

In an apparatus for dyein a" shield extending across tfi her and a steam pipe forming the shield.

textile fabe dye chamedge of said 7 8. An apparatus for dyeing textile fabrics,

In testimony whereof, we hereto alfix our signatures.

PIE-TEE MIJER. LESTER SCOTT.

GEORGE i RADFORD.

se skilled in the art that modifications i lcs comprising a dyeapplication' chain! for dyeing textile "fabrics. 

